After his interaction with chief minister of states and Union Territories, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that a consensus seems to be emerging among states to extend the lockdown. Even as a final decision on extension and nature of lockdown is still to be taken by the Central government, the Home Secretary has written a letter to Chief Secretaries of all states with new guidelines as a precursor to relaxation in lockdown. Meanwhile Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel held a marathon meeting close to 5hours with district collectors and leaders. Several issues faced by production units of essential goods and cold storages were also discussed. With an extended lockdown period to stop the spread of Covid19, the government is likely to enforce wearing masks compulsory across the state. At the same time the authorities may allow several trade and transportation activities. The central government made suggestions to the state government in this regard.
Farmers are likely to be allowed to start selling pulses and grains and their farm produce. The state government may relax lockdown in the districts where no case of Covid-19 has been registered. But the relaxation will be only limited to the district and borders of the district will be sealed. Also there will be specific time for travel and move out every day instead of round the clock.
The letter from Secretary of Home Affairs Ajay Bhalla written to chief secretaries of all states, mentioned several exemptions, ensuring more commercial activities and transportation coming to life. The Centre has not only allowed movement of goods trucks, loaded or empty to take cargo but also focused on production in the MSME sector as well. The letter suggested that local authorities should actively facilitate the movement of truck drivers and cleaners from their place of residence to the location of their trucks. The state authorities should also facilitate easy to and fro movement of workers to the place of their work and back.
It is also likely that the railway, airport and seaport may get regularised gradually as the central authority allows the Railways, airport and seaport to issue passes to their workers and contractual staff as well. The MSME engaged in the manufacturing of wheat flour, pulses and edible oil should be allowed. State governments should also ensure the passes for the workers for permitted categories are issued expeditiously. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel held a video conference with the district collectors, leaders and ministers and Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) office-bearers on Monday. In the meeting, they discussed how the APMC will function in the coming days.
According to sources close to development, the government is mulling relaxation on movement of transport and operations by small restaurants and hotels to cater to the goods vehicles. In the next phase, these trucks may be allowed to accompany one more person with the driver. In addition, the government recently permitted fishing activities on the coastline as well. The new decision may look at lockdown that can accommodate more economic activities. Trucks coming from the neighbouring states with cattle feed may return with fish back to those states to be sold in the markets there. However, an official announcement is still awaited.
Highly placed sources in the government said they are waiting for the Centre’s guidelines and it will be followed strictly. The second phase of lockdown may seem to be extending but with several exceptions. It may not look like a complete lockdown as it was in the last 21 days. All the movement of vehicles and people will be in strict adherence to norms of hygiene and social distancing, as is required in context of Covid19.
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